Fused electric connector



Ficled Oct. 31, 1952 lllI-lllll.

INVENTOR.

ABRAHAM BROTSKY 8 Army/m Patented July 13, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to a fused electrical connector or fuse adapter and, more particularly, to a fused electrical connector of the type for household use.

The particular embodiment of the present invention which is illustrated in the drawings and which will be described hereinafter in greater detail, comprises generally, a casing and a pair of spaced, fused sockets opening through the casing. There are, of course, many other fused connectors in the prior art, but they have not oven wholly satisfactory. In the past, the in ed connectors have been costly to manufacture, easily damaged, and it has been dilncult to replace burned out fuses.

It is a principal object of the present invention to overcome the above noted disadvantages.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple and efiicient electrical connector or fuse adapter.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a fused electrical connector in which the physical condition of the fuse is readily apparent.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a fused electrical connector in which the fuse may be replaced without dislooating any parts of the connector.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a fused electrical connector of the type described which is simple and durable,

which is effective for its intended purposes and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

Still another object of the present invention above type which includes novel types of fuses.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended 4 claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is an elevational View of the device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of Fig. 1 with half the casing removed.

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the fused device and fuse.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-41 of Fig. 1.

Fig 5 is an end elevational view of modified type of fuse to be employed in conection with the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 7 is an end elevational view of a still further modified type of fuse.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view thereof.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 to i of the drawings, the embodiment of the invention illustrated therein comprises an electrical connector, generally designated H3, which includes a casing of insulation material compose of complementary casing sections H and 52. The particular type of connector illustrated has a threaded plug IS on one end, a threaded socket is on the other end, and a pair of prong receptacles l5 and 58 on each side thereof. However, the invention is equally applicable to electrical connectors of many types. In practice, the invention has been successfully used with electrical connectors of the threaded plug and prong receptacle type, the prong and threaded socket type, the prong and prong receptacle type, and others.

The casing sections ll and I2 are provided with cutouts l1 and I8, respectively, which combine when the casing sections are in assembled position to form a longitudinally disposed slot 19. Adjacent the lower end of the casing is a metallic ferrule I3 which surrounds the casing sections and is provided with corrugations 2 for threaded reception in a socket. The ferrule i3 is not shown in Fig. 2.

The ferrule serves to make electrical contact with the metal bracket 2| of the fuse adapter.

. The bracket 2! is a U-shaped member having its is to provide a fused electrical connector of the bight portion inserted into the notch 22 interlocked with the adjacent portions of the casing sections. The casing section i2 is also provided with notch (not shown) which is dis posed opposite notch 22 and cooperates the with for receiving the bight portion of bracket 2!. A plate 23 is fixedly secured at one end to bracket 2| and is fixedly secured at the other end to a socket or clip 24, which is positioned in slot is adjacent one end thereof and opening outwardly through the slot. The bracket and clip may be integrally formed as shown in 3. The clip 24 is fabricated with the plate 23 from a single sheet of resilient metal folded upon itself and adapted to receive one end of a fuse 25 for yieldably holding the latter. A second socket or clip 30, which is fabricated of a single sheet of resilient metal folded upon itself, as shown in Fig. 3, is arranged within the casing adjacent the other end of slot l9 and facing outwardly through the slot. A bracket 3! is formed integrally with clip 3! and provided with a rivet hole 32 for fixedly securing the clip to prong 33. A bar connects bracket 3! with the corrugated shell 35.

The ferrule l8 contacts bracket 2i which is integeral with or fixedly secured to clip 24, and the shell 35 is electrically connected to clip St. The fuse 2 having its ends embracingly received in clips 24 and 3f: would serve to complete one leg of the electrical circuit. The other leg of the circuit (not shown in detail) will be through contact id, prong 4!, switch 62, and plate 33.

The free ends of metal clips 2 3 and 3b are slightly inward of the exterior surface of the easing sections so that the fuse 25 will not be dangerously exposed. While this may require the use of tweezers, plyers or the like, for replacing fuses, no special skill is required. Also, the conditon of a fuse is readily apparent as the fuse is always open to view.

In Fig. 4 is shown the ferrule l3 embracing the casing sections it and i2 and making electrical contact with the U-shaped bracket 23. Thus, it is seen that a fusing device is provided which may be interposed in one leg of an electrical connector to limit the disruption of electricity to the faulty electrical device.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, there is shown a modified type of fuse adapted to be used in connection with the present inven- 1, referred to collectively as 25', consisting of Metallic end clamps 5-! and 232 of conductive material secured to an intermediate strip of insulat ing material 53 by means of screws 54 of conductive material, substantially as illustrated. The screws 5 are electrically connected by a length of fuse wire 5", of the same material as the fuse 25 of Fig. 3, the wire 55 being wound around the strip 53 in the manner shown. The end clamps 55 and 52 are inserted between the clips 2s and 39 in the same manner as the fuse is, this fuse having an advantage over the fuse in that less fuse material required at a consequent lower cost.

Furthermore, the cross sectional area of the wire 55 is considerably less than that of the fuse :25, with the result that the fuse 25' can be made more sensitive to electrical short-circuits.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 7 and 8, there is shoun a still further modified type of fuse adapted to be used in connection with the present vention, referred to collectively at 25, d1 -ering from the fuse in the addi ion of a wir of high electrical resistance connecting the screws 5' In t is form, when the fuse wire 55 is blown, the current continues to flow, although at a much lower amperage, thus saving bulb from a quick electrical shock. The fuse wire is wound around the resistance wire 56.

In other respects, the form of fuse shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is the'saine as that illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 and l ke reference numerals identify like parts in each of the several views.

" hile 1 have'illustrated and described the prel1 ierred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications comwithin the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim 'as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1; An electrical connector comprising a casing having a pair of complementary longitudinal sections, the adjacent edges of said sections being cut away to form a longitudinal slot, and being provided with oppositely disposed notches adjacent to and spaced from said slot, a pair of spaced conducting sockets positoned within said slot and opening outwardly of said casing for receiving the opposite ends of a fuse, and a conducting bracket on each of said sockets for fixedly securing the latter in positon, one of said brackets comprising a U-shaped member extending through said notches and being interlocked with the adjacent portions of said sections.

2. An electrical connector comprising a casing having a pair of complementary longitudinal sections, the adjacent edges of said sections being cut away to form a longitudinal slot, and being provided with oppositely disposed notches adjacent to and spaced from said slot, pair of spaced conducting sockets positioned within said slot and opening outwardly of said casing for receiving the opposite ends of a fuse, a conducting bracket on each end of said sockets for fixedly securing the latter in position, one of said brackets comprising a U-shapeo'; member extending through notches and being interlocked with the adjacent portions of said sections, and a ferrule on said casing overlying said one bracket to hold the latter in position and make contact therewith.

3. All electrical connector comprising a casing having a pair of complementary longitudinal sections, the adjacent edges of said sections being cut away to form a longitudinal slot, and being provided with oppositely disposed notches adjacent to and spaced from said slot, a pair of spaced conducting sockets positoned within said slot and opening outwardly of said casing for receiving the opposite ends of a fuse, and a conducting bracket on each of said sockets for fixedly securing the latter in positon, one of said compr sing a ii-shaped member extending through said notches and being interlocked with the adjacent portions of said sections, said socket having said U-shaped member consisting of a substantially L-shaped piece of resilient material folded upon itself at each end whereby to provide said socket and said bracket, said piece of material at its center being twisted until the plane of said bracket is at substantially ninety degrees to the plane of said socket.

4. In an electrical connector having a hollow casing having a side opening, a fuse adapter comprising a pair of spaced sockets of conductive material positioned within said casing and accessible through said opening, and a fuse, said fuse comprising a strip of insulating material extending between said sockets, clamps of conductive material secured to the ends of said insulating strip and adapted to be received in said sockets, and a wire of fuse material wrapped around the length of said insulating strip and connected to said clamps.

5. In an electrical connector having a hollow casing having a side opening, a fuse adapter comprising a pair of spaced sockets of conductive material positioned within said casing and accessible through said opening, and a fuse, said fuse comprising a strip of insulating material extending between said sockets, clamps of conductive material secured to the ends of said insulating strip and adapted to be received in said sockets, and a wire of fuse material wrapped around the length of said insulating strip andconnected to said clamps, and a wire of high electrical resistance wrapped around said insu1ating strip and connected to said clamps.

6. An electrical connector comprising a casing having a pair of complementary longitudinal sections, the adjacent edges of said sections being cut away to form a longitudinal slot, and being provided with oppositely disposed notches adjacent to and spaced from said slot, a pair of spaced conducting sockets positioned within said slot and opening outwardly of said casing for receiving the opposite ends of a fuse, and a conducting bracket on each of said sockets for fixedly securing the latter in position, one of said brackets comprising a U-shaped member extending through said notches and being interlocked with the adjacent portions of said sections, and a fuse, said fuse comprising a strip of insulating material extending between said sockets, clamps of conductive material secured to the ends of said insulating strip and adapted to be received in said sockets, and a wire of fuse material wrapped around the length of said insulating strip and connected to said clamps,

7. An electrical connector comprising a casing having a pair of complementary longitudinal sections, the adjacent edges of said sections being cut away to form a longitudinal slot, and being provided with oppositely disposed notches adjacent to and spaced from said slot, a pair of spaced conducting sockets positioned within said slot and opening outwardly of said casing for receiving the opposite ends of a fuse, and a con ducting bracket on each of said sockets for fixedly securing the latter in position, one of said brackets comprising a U-shaped member extending through said notches and being interlocked with the adjacent portions of said sections, and a fuse, said fuse comprising a strip of insulating material between said sockets, clamps of conductive material secured to the ends of said insulating strip and adapted to be received in said sockets, and a wire of fuse material Wrapped around the length of said insulat ing strip and connected to said clamps, and a wire of high electrical resistance wrapped around said insulating strip and connected to said clamps.

8. An electrical connector comprising an insulating sectional tubular casing having a threaded plug portion at one end and a threaded socketed portion at its opposite end, the adjacent edges of the sections being cut away to form a longitudinal slot, a metal ferrule on the plug end, a threaded shell on the socketed end portion, a U-shaped conductor in the slot and connected to the ferrule, a U-shaped conductor in the slot and connected to the shell, said U- shaped conductors opening outwardly, of the slot, and an elongated strip of fusible metal in said slot having its ends in electrical contact with said U-shaped conductors.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,496,413 Sciara Feb. 7, 1950 2,536,520 Tighe Jan. 2, 1951 2,597,600 Shapiro May 20, 1952 

